Kingdom Hearts III’s smartphone turns its heroes into modern millennials

On Feb 3, 2019

Kingdom Hearts is a series about good vs. evil and the power of friendship, wrapped up in convoluted storylines and nonsensical titles. Its hero, Sora, is a teenager who travels worlds with Disney characters while yelling about the light and dark that live in our hearts. Outside of a few classic story beats, there’s not much in this fantasy world you’d call relatable. In Kingdom Hearts III, however, Square Enix has gifted its hero with the ultimate mainstream accessory: a smartphone.

It’s been more than a decade since the release of Kingdom Hearts II, and since then in-game features have grown to mirror modern life. Photo modes have popped up in the most unlikely of places, whether players are making memories with their anime leather…